JAN & CHARLIE SCHOTT – THE REPEAT RE-ASSEMBLERS
From parts in a basket to rolling down the streets of Panama City
BY RICHARD DRYER PHOTOS BY RICK COOPER
For more than thirty years, Charlie Schott hauled a 1953 right-hand drive MG TD crosscountry as he and his wife, Jan, moved from state to state for Charlie’s job as an engineer in the transportation industry. When he retired in October 2006, he could finally dedicate time to the MG TD restoration project.
Thirty-four years after his purchase, the MG TD elegantly drives down memory lane. The story is just beginning. The successfully completed MG TD project made its owners look for more. Charlie heard of a 1947 disassembled righthand drive MG TC for sale. He jumped at the opportunity to buy it and, without a doubt, knew how to convince Jan to go along with the project. He promised her the car when it was complete.
When he acquired it, the MG TC could not even be recognized as a car. Only with much imagination could anyone agree that all the disassembled parts had the potential to become drivable again. Charlie was determined. After three years and 2,500 man-hours, Jan could swing herself into soft freshly restored leather seats, hit the gas pedal and turn heads in her MG TC.
The TC was brought back to the States after WWII and was stored with the intention of a restoration. The owner passed away and left the vehicle to his son, who could never find the time or the funds to conduct the needed restoration. It was stored in a shed in his back yard for many years.
Charlie heard of it being for sale through a local automotive enthusiast and hunted down the vehicle to purchase it.
At first, Jan was not that comfortable with the idea of the right hand drive and shifting the four-speed transmission with her left hand, but she quickly learned. Last Spring at the “Brits on the Bay Car Show” in Pensacola, the vehicle was awarded “Best of Show.” This means it took first place over all other cars in the show. But the story does not end here.
As the three-year restoration project on the TC came to completion, a neighbor stopped by the Schott’s home and told Charlie about a “basket case” left-hand drive 1960 Austin Healey 3000 (the Big Healey) for sale in Pennsylvania. After a brief conversation with Jan, he again jumped at the opportunity, flew to Pennsylvania, inspected the disassembled Healey and purchased it on the spot.
The “Big Healey” was shipped to Panama City in its dismantled condition with many loose parts and in a lot of boxes. It had collision damage to the entire right side and its frame had to be straightened.
Charlie scoured the Internet for parts and joined Healey Clubs to locate original parts to be able to complete the total restoration project.
The left-hand drive, six-cylinder, dual carburetor, four-speed, Austin Healey is now officially Jan’s and she proved to have impeccable taste by choosing the vintage-original, two-tone color scheme, Sea Mist Blue with Old English White for the side coves.
The inside of the vehicle is just as beautiful as the exterior and interior.The four-seater has a dark blue leather interior and a beautiful burr wood dashboard. The fit and finish of Charlie’s workmanship is spectacular to say the least. Every nut and bolt has been removed, polished, painted, or replaced, if necessary. All with meticulous attention to detail, down to the correct size, thread count, and head shape of the hardware.
Jan’s Austin Healey 3000 and now Charlie’s MG TC could be seen this summer in downtown Panama City at Friday Fest where they were displayed alongside other British Cars owned by the members of the Bay British Car Club.
The Schotts received several first place trophies from shows such as the Florida Scallop and Muscle Festival, Landmark Park Car Show in Dothan, Wiregrass Antique and Collector Car Show, and the Southeastern Fall Gathering of the Faithful Car Show. MG enthusiasts have several “GOF” (Gathering of the Faithful) across the country every year and Key West hosts a GOF every Spring.
And because classic cars do not keep them busy enough, Jan works part-time as a chef at Somethin’s Cookin’ Restaurant in Panama City where she practices her love of cooking. She also enjoys entertaining guests at home with her impeccable cooking skills while Charlie is practicing his love of sports cars. His passion for classic British Cars was preceded by driving new Corvettes most of his life. His latest Corvette is a 2014, 455 horse power, 7 speed model.
Charlie and Jan play golf for relaxation in their spare time and earn their peers’ admiration for being one of Bay County’s happiest married couples.
If you see a Sea Mist Blue and White Austin Healey cruising around Bay County driven by someone with red hair flowing in the wind, you’ll know that it’s Jan Schott in “Her Healey” and Charlie should not be too far away in his red driving cap driving his red MG TC.